Shelf bracket support

ABSTRACT

A rigid support bracket for assembling a tier of shelves comprised of a generally rectangular-shaped member with means on an upper portion for securing the bracket to the underside of a shelf.

United States Patent lnventor Arnold A. Grossman 14 Imperial Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94123 Appl. No. 868,359 Filed Oct. 22, 1969 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 SHELF BRACKET SUPPORT 1 Claim, 13 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 108/59,

108/111, 108/156 Int. Cl A47b 47/02 Field of Search 108/59,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 302,081 7/1884 Zerr 108/101 817,689 4/1906 Bentley 108/53 902,087 10/1908 King 5/128 930,340 8/1909 Berry... 5/310 1,234,628 7/1917 Christensen 108/91 1,358,322 11/1920 McIntosh 232/39 1,425,072 8/1922 Adams 248/1888 1,893,799 [/1933 Harringt0n.... 248/1887 2,480,559 8/1949 Derse 108/156 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Allomey-Owen, Wickersham & Erickson ABSTRACT: A rigid support bracket for assembling a tier of shelves comprised of a generally rectangular-shaped member with means on an upper portion for securing the bracket to the underside of a shelf.

PATENTEDBEB Hen 3,625,163

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PATENTED DEC mn' SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR. ARNO LD A GHJSMAN BY PATENTEDUEC H97! 3.625163 sum 3 or 3 FIG 8 o 3/2Oa o IOU L 3 V I no a I o o 24a FIG l0 INVENTOR. B ARNOLD a qkaesmm FIG 9 SHELF BRACKET SUPPORT This invention relates to a structural bracket or support fitting for use in making shelving and the like.

The construction of bookcases or other forms of shelving by conventional cabinet-making techniques is often unsatisfactory because of the time, expense and skill required. In addition, conventional woodworking techniques often fail to provide the desired esthetic affect as well as sufficient versatility in arrangement. To combat this problem various types of shelf-supporting structures have been devised, but many of these require a wall surface for anchoring the devices. This necessitates the penetration of the wall which in many instances is an inconvenient disadvantage. Moreover, wall brackets for shelving have always been subject to strength limitations.

One object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid problems by providing a bracket device that can be used to make shelving that does not require wall anchoring, is strong and stable and yet can provide a wide variety of shelving arrangements that are attractive in appearance.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bracket device that will enable one with a relatively small degree of skill in carpentry to assemble a shelving unit of the desired size with a minimum of time and labor and without the need for special tools. 7

Still another object of my invention is to provide a bracket device for making shelving units that accomplish the aforesaid objectives and yet is particularly well adapted for ease and economy of manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a top view of a bracket embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation and in section showing a plurality of brackets when assembled in a shelving arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear view of the shelving assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a view in section along the line 4a-4a of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a bracket afi'rxed to the shelf;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective showing a shelving arrangement utilizing brackets according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in perspective of another embodiment according to my invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in elevation and in section showing a shelving arrangement utilizing brackets as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9a is a view in section taken along the line 9a--9a of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the shelving assembly shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 10a is a view in section taken along line l0al0a of FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1-5 illustrates a shelving bracket embodying the principles of the present invention. As shown, it comprises generally a closed, rectangular-shaped, framelike member which is made of some suitable rigid and durable material such as steel or aluminum. In this embodiment, the bracket is comprised of a U-shaped portion having parallel side portions 22 and an interconnecting bottom portion 24 all of which may be formed from one integral piece of material having a rectangular cross section, as shown in FIG. 4a. Extending between and interconnecting the upper ends of the parallel side portions 22 is a diamond shaped top member 26, which may be made from sheet stock of a thickness suffrcient to provide adequate rigidity. The ends of the top member are preferably welded to the upper ends of the side portions. The angular portions of the top member forming its diamond shape extend outwardly horizontally a distance at least equal to one-third the distance between the side portions 22. These extended angular portions thus provide a stabilizing mounting base for a shelf 28 that is positioned on it, as seen in FIG. 5. Holes 30 are provided at spaced-apart intervals through the top member to enable it to be fastened by wood screws to the shelf.

In assembling a shelf unit with my brackets, the shelf members are first cut to the desired length. Any suitable type of wood can be used, depending on whether the unit is to be painted or stained and other considerations. Two brackets 20 are then attached to each shelf at a predetermined distance apart. With the brackets attached one shelf is placed on top of a lower or bottom shelf. Now, the two shelves are preferably connected together by means of a plurality of bolts 32 that extend through the shelf and portions of the brackets on the upper and lower sides of the shelf, as shown in FIG. 3. As many shelves as desired can be stacked and attached in the foregoing fashion to arrive at the desired size of a unit, as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

A modified form of bracket 20a utilizing the principles of my invention, is shown in FIGS. 7-10. Here, each bracket is comprised of side portions 220, a bottom portion 24a and a top member 260, all of which have a channel-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 10a. These members may be bent from one piece of sheet stock or from an extruded member, or they may be made from separate pieces which are connected together as by welding. Extending outwardly in a horizontal plane from opposite sides of the top member 26a on each bracket 20a are two pairs of stabilizing padlike members 34. These latter members, which may be welded or otherwise fixed to the top member, have plane upper surfaces that provide a mounting base for a shelf in the same manner as the diamond shaped top member 26. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7 holes are provided in the members 30a so that wood screws can extend through them to secure the bracket in a wood shelf. The shelves, when secured to a pair of spaced apart brackets, are stacked as previously described and preferably secured together by a series of bolts 320.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that my brackets make possible a simple, yet strong and efficient shelving con-- struction. Moreover, a high degree of flexibility is available by merely varying the length of the shelves used. Obviously, the brackets themselves can be made in a wide range of sizes and different sizes can be used in the same shelving unit to obtain varied arrangements.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

I. A shelving unit comprising:

a plurality of elongated shelf members, each said member being attached to and supported by two or more spaced apart bracket members, each said bracket member being comprised of a horizontal bottom portion, upright portions extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom portion, and a top stabilizing portion fixed to the upper ends of said upright portions, said top portion comprising flat sheet material secured at its ends to the upper ends of the upright portions and having a central diamond-shaped opening and side legs diverging outwardly from the ends of the top portions and meeting at the middle of the top portion to form said diamond shape in plan view, the lateral distance between the outer edges of said side legs where they meet at the middle being at least equal to one third of the distance between said upright portions;

each bracket member being secured to a superposed shelf member by fastener means extending through the side legs of the stabilizing top portion, bracket members positioned above a shelf member being vertically aligned with bracket members positioned below said shelf member,

and other fastening means extending through the horizontal bottom portions of the brackets, the top portions of the brackets and the shelf members interposed between the brackets to fasten the assembly together. 

1. A shelving unit comprising: a plurality of elongated shelf members, each said memBer being attached to and supported by two or more spaced apart bracket members, each said bracket member being comprised of a horizontal bottom portion, upright portions extending upwardly from the ends of said bottom portion, and a top stabilizing portion fixed to the upper ends of said upright portions, said top portion comprising flat sheet material secured at its ends to the upper ends of the upright portions and having a central diamond-shaped opening and side legs diverging outwardly from the ends of the top portions and meeting at the middle of the top portion to form said diamond shape in plan view, the lateral distance between the outer edges of said side legs where they meet at the middle being at least equal to one third of the distance between said upright portions; each bracket member being secured to a superposed shelf member by fastener means extending through the side legs of the stabilizing top portion, bracket members positioned above a shelf member being vertically aligned with bracket members positioned below said shelf member, and other fastening means extending through the horizontal bottom portions of the brackets, the top portions of the brackets and the shelf members interposed between the brackets to fasten the assembly together. 